The Montane Featherlite Down Jacket is one of the most substantial and heavy jackets in the test, but it’s still excellent. It’s also at the warmer end of the scale of the jackets in this test. The hood is the best here, with a volume adjuster and drawcords you can adjust with one hand on the outside. The little stiffened peak is great. There’s a chest pocket and two handwarmer pockets.
The Pertex Quantum material is good (and common on similar jackets), and the interior fabric is soft and comfortable. I tested a medium (I’m usually a large), but it still fit reasonably well. The fabric on the cuffs scrunch up, as they do on the Vaude jacket, and felt a little rough against the wrist, but not as uncomfortable as those on the Vaude. The jacket is well-articulated under the arms so there’s almost no hem lift. The main zip comes up very high, and that won’t be to everyone’s taste, but it works against the elements. A good buy.
First published: Feb 2014
